आत्मा जेयः सदा राज्ञा ततो जेयाश्च शत्रवः ।
अजितात्मा नरपतिर्विजयेत कथं रिपून् ॥
- महाभारत, शान्ति
aatma jeyaH sadA rAjnA tato jeyashcha shatravaH ।
ajitAtmA narapatiH vijayeta katham ripUn ॥
- mahAbhArata, shAnti
One must defeat himself (senses) first. Then he can think about defeating his enemies. If one can not defeat his own senses how can he defeat external enemies?
- Mahabharata, Shanti
आश्रमांस्तुलया सर्वान् धृतानाहुर्मनीषिणः ।
एकतश्च त्रयो राजन् गृहस्थाश्रम एकतः ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
aashramAms tulayaa sarvAn dhRutAn aahuH manIShiNaH ।
ekashcha trayo rAjan gRuhasthAshrama ekataH ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
Oh! King, wise men have weighed the different phases of life in a balance. They have found one to be as heavy as the other three put together. Grihasthaashrama - the phase where one runs his household independently is equal to brahmacharya (student hood), vanaprastha (forest dwelling, retirement) and sanyasa (total renouncement) all put together.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
आरोग्यं विद्वत्ता सज्जनमैत्री महाकुले जन्म ।
स्वाधीनता च पुंसां महदैश्वर्यं विनाप्यर्थैः ॥
- महाभारत, शान्ति
aarogyam vidvattA sajjana maitri mahAkule janma ।
svadhInatA cha pumsAm mahadaishvaryam vinaapi arthaiH ॥
- mahabhArata, shAnti
Health, wisdom, friendship of virtuous people, birth in a noble family, personal freedom - these are the wealth that one can get even without any money.
- Mahabharata, Shanti
अर्थैरर्थाः निबध्यंते गजैर्वनगजा इव ।
न च कश्चित् कृते कार्ये कर्तारं समवेक्षते ॥
- महाभारत, शान्ति
arthaiH arthAH nibadhyante gajaiH vanagajaa iva ।
na cha kashchit kRute kArye kartAraM samavekShate ॥
- mahabhArata, shAnti
Wealth has to be used to get more wealth just like tame elephants are used to capture and tame the wild elephants. In this world, people will never remember the person they received help from after having benefited from them.
- Mahabharata, Shanti
अबलस्य बलं राजा बालस्य रुदितं बलम् ।
बलं मूर्खस्य मौनित्वं तस्करस्यानृतं बलम् ॥
- गरुडपुराण
abalasya balam rAjA bAlasya ruditam balam ।
balam mUrkhasya maunitvam taskarasya anRutam balam ॥
- garuDa purANa
A king must be the power of the weak. A child gets its power from crying. A fool must use silence as his poer and ability tell lies is the power of thieves.
- Garuda Purana
अभ्रच्छाया तृणाग्निश्च खले प्रीतिः स्थले जलम् ।
वेश्यासक्तिः कुमित्रं च षडेते बुद्बुदोपमाः ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
abhrat ChAyA tRuNAgni khale prItiH sthale jalam ।
veshya aasaktiH kumitram cha ShaD ete budbuda upamAH ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
The following six things as ephemeral as a water bubble - shade from a cloud, fire from grass, love shown by a rogue, water that is spilled over land, attention span of a prostitute and a bad friend.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
अहो साहजिकं प्रेम दूरादपि विराजते ।
चकोरनयनद्वन्द्वमाह्लादयति चन्द्रमाः ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
aho sahajikam prema dUrAdapi virAjate ।
chakora nayana dvandvam aahlAdayati chandramaaH ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
When love is natural, distance does not matter. The moon and the chakora bird enjoy just watching each other.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
अविदितपरमानन्दो वदति जनो विषयमेव रमणीयम् ।
तिलतैलमेव मृष्टं येन न दृष्टं घृतं क्वापि ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
avidata paramAnando vadati jano viShayameva ramaNIyam ।
tila tailameva mRuShTam yena na dRuShTam ghRutam kvapi ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
Those who have not experienced the unlimited supreme happiness will always be of the opinion that worldly pleasures give them more happiness. It is like the case of people who have never tasted ghee and hence consider sesame seed oil to be tasty.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
असारे खलु संसारे सारमेतच्चतुष्टयम् ।
काश्यां वासः सतां सङ्गो गंगांभः शंभुसेवनम् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
asAre khalu samsAre sArametat chatuShTayam ।
kAshyAm vAsaH satAm sango gangAmbhaH shambhusevanam ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
In this world without any real substance, there are only four things that matter - living in Kashi, befriending virtuous people, holy water of Ganga and worshiping Lord Shiva.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
असद्भिः शपथेनोक्तं जले लिखितमक्षरम् ।
सद्भिस्तु लीलया प्रोक्तं शिलालिखितमक्षरम् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
asadbhiH shapathena uktam jale likhitam akSharam ।
sadbhiH tu lIlayA proktam shilA likhitamakSharam ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
When rogues proclaim their vows, it is as if written in water - good for nothing. But when virtuous people even make a passing remark, it is as if written on stone - they will live up to it.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
अपूर्वः कोऽपि कोशोऽयं विद्यते तव भारति ।
व्ययतो वृद्धिमायाति क्षयमायाति संचयात् ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
apUrvaH ko api koshaH ayam vidyate tava bhArati ।
vyayato vRuddhim aayAti kShayam aayAti sanchayAt ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
Oh Saraswathi, your treasure (wisdom) is great. It grows as you spend and depletes if you try to horde.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
अफलानि दुरंतानि समव्ययफलानि च ।
अशक्यानि च वस्तूनि नारभेत विचक्षणः ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
aphalAni duraMtAni samavyayaphalAni cha।
॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
Wise men will not take up a task that will definitely fail, end in destruction, yields results that barely break-even or already known to be impossible.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
अपत्यदर्शनस्यार्थे प्राणानपि च या त्यजेत् ।
त्यजन्ति तामपि क्रूरा मातरं दारहेतवे ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
apatya darshanasyArthe prANAnapi cha yA tyajet ।
tyajanti tAmapi krUrA mAtAram dArahetave ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
Parents risk their own lives to bring an offspring to this world. But sons so brought to this world abandon them for the sake of their wives.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
असतां सङ्गदोषेण साधवो यान्ति विक्रियाम् ।
दुर्योधनप्रसंगेन भीष्मो गोहरणे गतः ॥
- पञ्चतंत्र
asatAm sangadoSheNa sAdhavo yAnti vikriyAm ।
duryodhana prasangena bhIShmo goharaNe gataH ॥
- panchatantra
If one is associated with rogues, they get corrupted even if they were virtuous by themselves. In the matter of Duryodhana, even Bheeshma participated in stealing cows from Virata's kingdom.
- Panchatantra
अर्थार्थी जीवलोकोऽयं श्मशानमपि सेवते ।
त्यक्त्वा जनयितारं स्वं निःस्वं गच्छति दूरतः ॥
- पञ्चतंत्र
arthArthI jIvaloko ayam shmashAnamapi sevate ।
tyaktvA janayitAram svaM niHsvam gacChati dUrataH ॥
- panchatantra
There are a few greedy sons (or daughters) in this world who choose to live (and earn) in a graveyard for the sake of money even if it means to abandon their poor and old parents.
- Panchatantra
अनेके फणिनः संति भेकभक्षणतत्पराः ।
एक एव हि शेषोऽयं धरणीधरणक्षमः ॥
- भोजप्रबंध
aneka phaNinaH santi bheka bhakShiNa tatparAH ।
eka eva hi sheShaH ayam dharaNI dharaNa kShamaH ॥
- bhoja prabandha
There are many snakes who are immersed in their usual activities of swallowing frogs. But there is only one - Shesha who is capable of holding the weight of the entire earth.
- Bhojaprabandha
अग्नौ दग्धं जले मग्नं हृतं तस्करपार्थिवैः ।
तत्सर्वं दानमित्याहुर्यदि क्लैब्यं न भाषते ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
agnau dagdham jale magnam hRutam taskara pArthivaiH ।
tat sarvam dAnam iti aahuH yadi klaibyam na bhAShate ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
What is lost to fire, water, thieves or kings will be accounted as 'donated' if we do not grieve over the lost items.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
अंजनस्य क्षयं दृष्ट्वा वल्मीकस्य च संचयं ।
अवंध्यं दिवसं कुर्यात् दानाध्ययनकर्मसु ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
anjanasya kShayam dRuShTvA valmIkasya cha sanchayam ।
avandhyam divasam kuryAt dAna adhyayana karmasu ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
A person should learn about impermanence from these two. Collyrium applied to the eyelashes get washed away easily. Ants build the anthill only to let a snake live in it. After having seen this, one should not waste his time every day. He must engage in charity (giving) and introspective study.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
अनादायी व्ययं कुर्यादसहायी रणप्रियः ।
आतुरः सर्वभक्षी च नरः शीघ्रं विनश्यति ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार
anAdAyI vyayam kuryAd asahAyI raNapriyaH ।
AturaH sarvabhakShI cha naraH shIghram vinashyati ॥
- subhAShitaratnabhANDAgAra
These people are going to get destroyed soon - one who spends more than he earns, one who goes to war without support, a patient who does not watch his diet.
- Subhashitaratnabhandagara
अनर्घ्यमपि माणिक्यं हेमाश्रयमपेक्षते ।
अनाश्रयान शोभन्ते पण्डिता वनिता लताः ॥
anarghyamapi mANIkyam hemAshrayam apekShate ।
anAshrayaa na shobante panDitA vanitA latAH ॥
Even a very precious gem needs the support of gold to be made into a wearable ornament. Just like that the following things are weak without proper support - scholars, women and creepers.
सुकृतेन कुले जन्म सुकृतेन सुभाषितम् ।
सुकृतेन सती भार्या सुकृतेन कृती सुतः ॥
- हरिहर सुभाषित
sukRutena kule janma sukRutena subhAShitam ।
sukRutena satI bhAryA sukRutena kRutI sutaH ॥
- harihara subhAShita
It is only by good fortune (as a result of good karma in previous lives) that one gets to be born in a good family, collect good subhashitas, get married to a lady of good character and get a son who will achieve something substantial.
- Harihara Subhashita
स्त्रीणामार्यस्वभावानां परमं दैवतं पतिः ।
नातो विशिष्टं पश्यामि बांधवं विमृशंत्यहम् ॥
- रामायण, अयोध्या
strINAm aaryasvabhAvAnAm paramam daivatam patiH ।
nAto vishiShTam pashyAmi bAndhavam vimRushanti aham ॥
- ramAyaNa, ayodhyA
A wife with good culture will treat her husband no less than God. I have analyzed in many ways. There is no one more intimate to a wife than her husband - not even God.
- Ramayana, Ayodhya
हृदयं सदयं यस्य भाषितं सत्यभूषितम् ।
कायः परहितोपायः कलिः कुर्वीत तस्य किम् ॥
- पद्मनंदनस्य वैराग्य शतक
hRudayam sadayam yasya bhAShitam satyabhUShitam ।
kAyaH parahitopAyaH kaliH kurvIta tasya kim ॥
- padmanandana's vairAgya shataka
Kali (who can corrupt anyone) will not be able to do anything to a person who has compassion in his heart, truth in his words and uses his body to help others.
- Padmanandana's Vairagya Shataka
कुसुमशयनं पाषाणो वा प्रियं भवनं वनं
प्रतनुमसृणस्पर्शं वासस्त्वगप्यथ तारवी ।
सरसमशनं कुल्माषो वा धनानि तृणानि वा
शमसुखसुधापानक्षैभ्ये समं हि महात्मनाम् ॥
- मुनिमतमीमांस
kusuma shayanam pAShANaH vA priyam bhavanam vanam
pratanumasRuNasparsham vAsaH tvagapi atha tAravI ।
sarasama ashanam kulmASho vaa dhanAni tRuNAni vA
shama sukha sudhA pAna kShaibhye samam hi mahAtmanAm ॥
- munimatamImaamsa
For an ascetic who derives his satisfaction from killing desires, it does not matter if he sleeps on flowery bed or hard stone, lives in a palace or forest, smooth silky clothes or rags, sumptuous food or gruel, wealth or blades of grass.
- Munimatamimamsa
अत्युच्चपदाध्यासः पतानायेत्यर्थशालिनां शंसत् ।
आपांडुपततिपत्रं तरोरिदं बंधनग्रंथेः ॥
ati uccha padAdhyAsaH patAnAyeti arthashAlinAm shamsat ।
ApAnDu patati patram taroH idam bandhana grantheH ॥
It is the same fate that awaits people reach the top using wealth. When a leaf turns white (pale), it loses the connection to the tree and falls off.
छिंत्ते मोहं चित्प्रकर्षं प्रयुंक्ते
सूते सूक्तिं सूयते या पुमर्थान् ।
प्रीतिं कीर्तिं प्राप्तुकामेन सैषा
शाब्दी शुद्धिः शारदेवास्तु सेव्या ॥
- गोपेंद्रतिप्पभूपाल
Chinte moham chit prakarSham prayukte
sUte sUktim sUyate yA pumArthAn ।
prItim kIrtim prAptukAmena sa iShA
shAbdI shuddhiH shAradaa eva astu sevyA ॥
- gopendra tippa bhUpAla
Good language can change lives. It let's you lose any attachment to worldly possessions. It illuminates your mind. It makes you tell good things. It helps you achieve your goal. It will help you get love and fame. using good language is equal to worshiping Goddess Sharada herself.
- Gopendra Tippa Bhupala
वर्णप्रकर्षे सति कर्णिकारं
दुनोति निर्गंधतया स्म चेतः ।
प्रायेण सामग्र्यविधौ गुणानां
पराङ्मुखी विश्व सृजः प्रवृत्तिः ॥
- कुमारसंभव
varNa prakarShe sati karNikaaram
dunoti nirgandhatayA sma chetaH ।
prAyena sAmagryavidhau guNAnAm
parAnmukhI vishvasRujaH pravRuttiH ॥
- kumArasambhava
The flowers of golden shower tree are bright in color, but disappoint due to the lack of fragrance. It is the nature of this Creator that he does not put in effort to make one thing good in all respects. He intentionally leaves out a few qualities in anything he makes.
- Kumarasambhava
दिवाकराद्रक्षतियो गुहासु
लीनं दिवाभीतमिवांधकारं ।
क्षुद्रेऽपि नूनं शरणं प्रपन्ने
ममत्वमुच्चैःशिरसामतीव॥
- कुमारसंभव
divAkara aadrakShatiyo guhAsu
lInam divAbhItam ivAndhakAram ।
kShudro api nUnam sharaNam prapanne
mamatvam ucchaiH shirasAm atIva ॥
- kumArasambhava
In the Himalayas, there are caves where Sun rays have never entered. Inside, those afraid of sunlight - darkness and owls are safe. It is the noble quality of the virtuous people that protect even the weak (and lowly) when they ask for refuge.
- Kumarasambhava
अनंतरत्नप्रभवस्य यस्य
हिमं न सौभाग्यविलोपि जातं ।
एको हि दोषो गुणसन्निपाते
निमज्जतींदोः किरणेष्वांकः ॥
- कुमारसंभव
ananta ratna prabhAvasya yasya
himam na saubhAgya vilopi jAtam ।
eko hi doSho guNasannipAte
nimajjati indoH kiraNeShu aankaH ॥
- kumArasambhava
The Himalaya has numerous virtuous qualities each one like a gem. His greatness is not concealed in spite of having snow all over him. His virtuous qualities are so many that it is not possible to see any vice that may exist. His glory is clearly evident in the moon light.
- Kumarasambhava
हित्वा धर्मं तथार्थं च कामं यस्तु निषेवते ।
स वृक्षाग्रे यथा सुप्तः पतितः प्रतिबुध्यते ॥
- रामायण, किष्किंधा
hitvA dharmam tathA artham cha kAmam yastu niShevate ।
sa vRukSHagre yathA suptaH patitaH pratibuddhyate ॥
- rAmAyaNa, kiShkindhA
He who indulges in Kama having forgotten about dharma (morality) and even artha(wealth) will realize his mistake only after he is hurt. Just like a person who is sleeping on a branch of the tree. He will be woken up only when he falls.
- Ramayana, Kishkindha
हालाहलं खलु पिपासति कौतुकेन
कालानलं परिचुचुंबिषति प्रकामम् ।
व्यालाधिपं च यतते परितब्धुमद्धा
यो दुर्जनं वशयितुं तनुते मनीषाम् ॥
- भामिनीविलास
hAlAhalam khalu pipAsati kautukena
kAlAnalam pari chuchumbiShati prakAmam ।
vyAlaadhipaM cha yatate paritabdhum addhA
yo durjanaM vashayitum tanute manIShAm ॥
- bhAminIvilAsa
A person who wants to get a rogue under his control (or befriend him) is taking a huge risk. Just like, curiosity to drink poison, playing with fire, hugging the king of snakes (takShaka).
- Bhaminivilasa
